IORMA Webinar: What trends will most impact consumers in 2021?
Thursday, 14 January 2021
The pandemic and Britain’s departure from the EU are likely to impact consumers in 2021 but what other economic, technological, geopolitical, environmental and commercial factors could affect jobs – and consumers’ ability to spend?
Once again IORMA has assembled a stellar cast of economists, futurists and internationalists who will explore how they see 2021 developing.
Panel Members
Kurt Bayer, The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies
Kurt Bayer, former Director of the World Bank and the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is now Senior Research Associate of The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies. He is Emeritus Consultant at the Austrian Institute of Economic Research where he spent 25 years in a variety of functions. He was also Deputy Director General at the Austrian Ministry of Finance where he guided Austria into the European Union and facilitated the changeover from the Austrian Schilling to the Euro. He blogs on Austrian and European Economic Policy and Austrian cultural life under https://kurtbayer.wordpress.com
Jeffrey Cole, Founder and Director, Center for the Digital Future, Los Angeles
Jeffrey Cole has been at the forefront of media and communication technology issues both in the United States and internationally for the past three decades. Based in Los Angeles, Jeff is an expert in the field of technology and emerging media and serves as an adviser to governments and leading companies around the world as they craft digital strategies.
In 1999, Jeffrey founded and directs the World Internet Project, a long-term longitudinal look at the effects of computer and Internet technology, which is conducted in over 35 countries. Twenty one years into the project, the World Internet Project, through its unique data on Internet users around the world, is the leading, unrivalled international project examining the ways in which technology changes our lives.
Graeme Leach, CEO and Chief Economist, Macroeconomics
Graeme is one of Britain’s leading economists and a former Chief Economist and Director of Policy at the Institute of Directors (IoD), where he was also a member of the Board. Graeme represented the IoD in economic discussions with the Chancellor and 10 Downing Street. Graeme founded macronomics in 2016, which is a macroeconomic, geopolitical and future megatrends research consultancy.
He is a visiting professor of economic policy and a senior fellow of the Legatum Institute in London. He is also a member of the IEA Shadow Monetary Policy Committee (SMPC). He has spent a lifetime in economics, futures and foresight, having started his career at The Henley Centre for Forecasting.
Greg Swenson, Partner, Brigg Macadam
Greg spent 25 years in capital markets on Wall Street with over a decade at Lehman Brothers. At HSBC he was Head of North American Middle Market Sales in Global Banking and Markets. At Brigg Macadam, Greg helps emerging market sponsors and owners raise debt and equity finance for energy and infrastructure projects particularly in Africa and the Middle East.
Moderator
Beverley Nielsen Associate Professor Councillor
Beverley Nielsen is Director at the Institute for Design & Economic Acceleration (IDEA), a ‘think and do’ tank at Birmingham City University where she has worked for the past 12 years.
Beverley has helped over 45 start-ups through early stages of growth providing support with business planning and access to customers, funding and market sector expertise.
She has personally started two businesses in the past five years – Boundless Outdoors, which she chairs providing outdoor activities for all ages with a focus on outdoor activities provision for schools. Beverley also Chairs Ultra Light Rail Partners which promotes clean, green, ultra low cost, high quality tram-train solutions, designed and made in the West Midlands.
Beverley founded Birmingham Made Me promoting design-led brands across the West Midlands and linking emerging talent with established businesses to help drive innovative design and development.
Prior to that she was MD at Fired Earth and Director of AGA Rangemaster plc for a decade and Director for the CBI West Midlands. As a Councillor she was elected to Malvern Hills District Council in May 2019 where she holds the Economic Development Portfolio.
For more information about IORMA’s series of webinars and the opportunities to speak in and sponsor, go to IORMA Events